Located just west of Hillcrest and overlooking Mission Valley and Presidio Park, Mission Hills is one of San Diego’s oldest and most desirable neighborhoods. The area was developed in the early 20th century and is one of the most architecturally impressive neighborhoods, most of the area restored to impeccable condition.
Mission Hills history
Mission Hills was subdivided in 1908, and over the years some of San Diego’s leading architects designed homes in the neighborhood, including Richard Requa, William E. Hebbard, William Templeton Johnson, Emmor Brooke Weaver, Nathan Rigdon, and Joel. E. Brown. More modern houses were built along the canyon rims by well-known architects Lloyd Ruocco, Homer Delawie, John Lloyd Wright, and Sim Bruce Richards. Local horticulturist Kate Sessions helped influence development in Mission Hills and founded the Mission Hills Nursery in 1910, which is still an active business.
What makes Mission Hills special
Just a stroll through the neighborhoods north of West Washington Street can make you want to live in Mission Hills. Old stately homes, quaint artisan bungalows, and grand mansions, all immaculately cared for on quiet streets, help make Mission Hills attractive.
What defines Mission Hills, first and foremost, are the homes. Mission Hills is a far cry from the newer cookie cutter subdivisions and older but well appointed homes each with their own unique features and charm.
Mission Hills also has its own shopping district that you can wander to. Most of the local businesses are located along West Washington Street from Hillcrest and to the east. The Mission Hills business center is along Goldfinch Street between Fort Stockton and West Washington. Restaurants, shops, pubs and services provide residents with almost everything they might need.
Visit Brooklyn Girl for delicious and innovative farm-to-table cuisine and Lefty’s for great Chicago-style pizza. For nightlife, most of the action is in neighboring Hillcrest, but for drinks and karaoke, the Lamplighter is the place to be.
A quick walk to Hillcrest is also where you will find most of the shopping. If you need a supermarket, the local Vons and Albertsons are small enough not to be overwhelming and feel more like a local supermarket. Then there’s the Mission Hills Nursery on Fort Stockton Drive, one of the oldest and most elegant nurseries in the city.
How to get to Mission Hills
Mission Hills is located just north of downtown San Diego and is easily accessible from State Route 163, which runs through the area. From I-8, take SR 163 South and take the West Washington Street exit. Drive through Hillcrest and within a few blocks you will be in Mission Hills.
The main east-west thoroughfares are Washington Street and University Avenue. Fort Stockton Drive, off Goldfinch Street, takes you through the main residential area of the neighborhood.
If you take Fort Stockton all the way west, then turn left on Arista, past some of the mansion-like houses as the road descends into Presidio Park.
